No dog is perfect- even though every owner likes to think their dog is! But, if your being honest and you know that your dog has behavior issues-even if it’s just now and then. How do you control your dogs bad behavior?Maybe you’re reading this because your dog has mostly good days and some bad behavior days. Or maybe you adopted a shelter dog that has never been socialized or trained properly. The fact of the matter is- dogs will have bad days just like humans do. And what starts as an infrequent bad behavior(s), can turn into something that’s done on a regular basis. That’s why it’s important to stop these bad dog behaviors in their tracks before it turns into habit forming behavior. So how do you go about controlling your dog’s bad behavior?
What is Bad Dog Behavior?
What constitutes bad dog behavior exactly? Well, there are many different bad dog behaviors and they all can depend on a range of factors, such as…The dog’s Breed – dogs areSome known for “bad” behaviors such as digging, excessive barking, etc.Their Age – Bad behaviors are more common among puppies or in elderly dogs.The Situation – Bad behavior varies with the situation, such as- constant barking when someone comes into the house. Or constant leash pulling when the dog sees a person or another animal when on walks.Bad Behavior Preferences – What may seem like bad behavior to you may not be considered bad behavior to another owner.
Different types of bad behavior can include:
Barking
Jumping up
Begging
Whining
Digging
Counter-surfing
Biting or nipping
Chewing
Leash pulling
Chasing
Urine marking
While the occasional incident of these behaviors is not usually a problem, like we stated above- constant ongoing behavior that isn’t corrected right away can be a challenge to correct. Fortunately, we have years of experience in dealing with stubborn dogs and have learned ways to help control a dog’s bad behavior!
How to Control A Dog’s Bad Behavior
Determine The Cause
The first step in controlling poor behavior is determining the cause of the dog’s reaction. Different medical conditions could lead to poor behavior, such as a dog with an ear infection. If your dog is constantly scratching or rubbing his ears this could signify a problem and be the reason why he is being more sensitive to noises and barking in protest. Another example where bad behavior could be medical related is if a dog starts urinating more around the house out of nowhere- this could possibly be due to a bladder infection. Other reasons could be the result of stress, anxiety or unfamiliar stimuli, which could be triggering the bad behavior. Hiring a professional dog trainer that has years of experience understanding dog behaviors and their body language can help you identify the source of your dog’s poor behavior. Once the reason is discovered, it is possible to control the dog’s response with different techniques, such as.
Techniques to control bad dog behavior
Prevention
If you know the trigger for your dog’s bad behavior, it may be easy to remove that trigger. For example, if your dog goes crazy every time the door bell rings then replace the doorbell with one that makes a different sound.
Know Your Dog
In some cases, bad behavior may be because you aren’t aware of your dog’s needs. A puppy or senior dog that may pee in the house could benefit from more frequent bathroom breaks outside. Inappropriate elimination is unavoidable in puppies, especially before 12 weeks of age. Where older dogs are another story. If an older dog starts urinating more, seek the advice from your vet and a professional trainer. Many older dogs require serious behavior modification to rid them of the habit once it becomes ingrained.
Exercise
Some bad behavior, such as digging or chasing, can be the result of pent-up energy. Giving your dog more exercise can help burn off that wound up energy- that way your dog isn’t tempted to behave poorly and decide to chew up your favorite $200 heels. Not to mention, exercising with your dog will help reinforce your bond so your dog will be more likely to pay attention to you and obey your commands.
Redirection
Some behavior that may seem bad is actually instinctive for a dog, such as chewing and digging.Chewing is a natural action for all dogs. In fact, chewing is an important activity for most dogs; it’s just part of the way they are wired. However, excessive chewing can quickly become a behavior problem if your dog causes destruction. If you catch your dog chewing the wrong thing, quickly distract your dog with a sharp noise. Then, use redirection on the dog and direct it to more appropriate choices, such as a safe chew toy. One of the most important things you can do is to make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise so it can wear off energy and be stimulated in that way rather than turning to chewing.
Stay Calm
No matter what your dog’s bad behavior is, it’s important to always stay calm. Your excitement, even if it is shouting or gesturing because you’re angry or upset, could be seen as play or encouragement. Instead, stay calm and keep your voice low and level, and your gestures slow and deliberate.
Interrupt Commands
When your dog is doing something bad, it can be helpful to have an interrupt command the dog is trained to obey. You may use “Stop!” “No!” “Drop it!” or “Leave It!” to get your dog’s attention and let them know their behavior is unacceptable.
Socialization
With some behaviors, socializing may be all that’s needed to correct the behavior. The more accustomed the dog is to different sounds and scents, the less likely the dog is to overreact at a new sensation.
Practice
Regularly reinforcing training with your dog will help them stay bonded to you and recognize you as an authority figure, which can help minimize bad behavior when you give commands or use other techniques to discourage different actions. The key is to always be consistent, and all family members should use the same techniques to halt bad behavior.
Some behaviors are easily changed with training, if that training is properly applied!A trainer can offer you several options for controlling unwanted behaviors, and can help you find what will work best for your dog to stop them from unwelcome actions.
What we offer At Come.Sit.Stay Dog Training
Located in Jacksonville, Fl., we also are happy to also cover another 25 mile radius.We come to your home for private one on one lessons so you and your dog learn where you live. Whether you have a new puppy, rescue dog, or an older dog in need of behavior modification, we got you covered! Some of the areas we cover are:
Come When Called
Sit Everywhere
STAY (Place)
Walk With You (NO PULLING or RUNNING AWAY)
Wait at The Door (Front or Back Door, Car, Any Doorway)
NO Jumping on People
NO Biting or Mouthing
No Digging
Proper way to greet people
Set Boundaries ( Personal Space, Kitchen, Furniture, Rooms, Gardens)
April 1, 2022 - By : Dana
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